Tobacco stemming and booking machine



l/vl/ENTOR' y. 1. H. DEAN. TOBACCO STEMMING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 13| |919. 1,387,244. PatentedAug. 9,1921.

Joh/IM Dea/7 1. H. DEAN.

TOBACCO STEMMING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAII. I3. I9I9.

1 ,387,244 Patented Aug. 9; 1921.

y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2. E:

IN l/E N TOR MMU-5- l. H. DEAN.

TOBACCO STEMMING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

E APPLICAUON FILED IAN-13,1919. 1,387,244, Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

7.-* 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. H. DEAN.

TOBACCO STEMMING AND BOUKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3, 1919.

1,387,244. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- @Luigia/1 A non/vf ys. i

J. H. DEAN. ToBAcco STEMM|NGAND BOOKING MACHINE.

Patented Allg. 9, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- APPLICATION FILED JAN13| |919.

/ Job/7 H @ela/7.

ammi

,UNITEDfs-TATS rari-:NTT

JOHNS'. DEANK,`0F G RAND anrrns,"iviv1c'irI'GAN../"`

Y TOBACCO sTEiviMING AND nooxiNc MCiiINE.

Specification olf Letters Patent. i' PLGIl-itIilg. 9,

Application led January 13, 41919. Serial No. 270,938.

ToaZZwiomt/r/Lay concern: s

Be it known that I, JOHN IVI. DEAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grrandv Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigam have linvented certain new and' useful Improvements -`in Tobacco Stemming and Booking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description ofthe invention, such as willenable others skilled n n the art to which it `appertains tomake and use the same. p l v This invention relates tok tobacco stripping and booking machim-isk and has, for its primary object andfpurpose theprovisionof a machine which will `strip the stems from the leavesof tobacco and at the same time book the parts ofthe leaves from which the stems are removed. 'A further objectof 'the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the stem of. a leaf is fed into the machine and cutting knives brought against the leaf each side of the stem whereby as the leaf is carried into Vthe machine,

a severing of the stem therefromis accom plished, the stem beingfejected from the ma# chine and the remainder of the'leaf carried around a-drum on whichit' remains, succeeding lleaves lbeing booked one over the other on the drum.- Various other objects and purposes, including mechanisms foi-.

controlling the machine, for stopping the same either `automatically or at will,"for

grasping the end ofthe stem to positively feed the leaf into theinachine, for elevating the front part of the machine'for' removal of a pack or book of leaves, and for accomplishing many other novel operations notI specifically enumerated. at this time, will ap# pear as understanding of the invention is `v had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sideelevationef 112 and 13.

the feed belt, showing that vpart thereof which the endif of the stenrof aleaf isin- 'troducedp Y Y W; f

Fig-7V is a r fragmentary side elevation showingfthe operative 'relations'of the various feed and booking beltsof the machine.

detail4 of vthe machine. `?'f s Fig. 9 is a partial sectional and side view of a part ofthe `control mechanism of the machine. t 'i Fig. 10 is ajsideselevation ofthe upper part of the machine,ltaken fromth'e side opposite to thatf'showninFig. 2, 'and Fig.'k 11 is a fragmentary front: elevation Fig." 8 is aplan `viewiof .a fragmentary of detailsof construction oft'he machine.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged detail `viewillustratingthe manner ofzmounting spring leaf holding fingers when the' same are employed in a-modified. form of the invention.v

leaf holding fingers. y

Fig.. 145 isa detail-verticaliseetional view of a portionof machine equipped with the spring leaf holding ingersshown in 1 In i Which hIdlIlg"A and Straightening feedvrollers are employed. 7 f

I l are detail views illustrat-v Ving another modification of the invention Like reference ycharacters refer. to like4 parts in the "diiferent` views of the'drawing. In the construction vof the Amachine, a

, front. table lli's provided to kextend in front of the main supporting partsB of the ma-r chine which vin turn` are cariiedat the upper end'sof legs y2,.said.legs, parts 3, 'and ythe ytable being, preferably Vcastfro1nv iron to make `a strong support for themechanism mounted thereonAty opposite sides of the wardly extendingV webs L andv 5 extend vertically. Ahollow 'drum 6 isidi'sposedhori- Zontally between said supporting webs, be-

support thus for-med, integral posts and for- I ing mountedfor'rotationj'a shaft '112 extendingk through the sameand having ro-` tatable mountsat'its endsin suitable-bearings as shown in Figs. 2 and Il0.Y ,I

` The tablell has its'fcehtral portion re- Vmoved, leavingan openingof substantially rectangular shape inl which vtwo. plates (59 and` 70 are positioned lengthwise of thek ktable,their kadjacent edges 'being lspaced .apartV to makealongitudinal slot betweenVv ,them.l *A headfis'rem'ovably'attached to the table inl the kopening below' theplates are mounted, being removable as a unit therewith. j

A shaft 50 s rotatably `mounted in `front and above the drum 6 and extends horizon! tally between the supports 4 and 5. Atits middle it carries two wheels Vor pulleysy "10.

Adjacent each end near the Supports, arm

46 extends downwardly to a point a short distance 0above .the table'l, being adjustably connected .at its lower .endfto the .adjacent support 4 or 5 so, that the same `ma'yfbe moved ,a Short distance forward -or nto the rear. tion zby set screws 106. Each at `its lower end isformed Vwith an inwardly extending portion 46a bored to receive Va iplu'g 104 which is' normally forced-.a short distance .beyond the `portion 46'LL by spring pressure. p The outer ends of plugs 1.04 are providedV with seats to .receive the endsofa rod 47 which is located horizontally at 4the lower .fend of an arm 9 pivoitally` mounted .at 'fitsupper .end on the shaft 50. `.From ysaid lower end of. the arm'9a second arm'S extends forwardly and upwardly, one of said arms 8 @being located at each Lend of the rod 47. At their v`front ends arms 8 4carry .a shaft 97. eWheels or pulleys 12 are rotatably mountedonfthe rod 47, while similar wheels orpulleyls '11 'are fixed on the shaft 97, .one on eaclifsidefofa grooved wheelialsovfixed on said'shafft 97.

Arms 108 are mounted ion'.and.extendrfor-` wardly from arms 109 anda feed roller which maybe constructed ofvleajther, liber or other suitable material yandwhichis provided at its periphery with spaced notches 15a, is inountedbetween thefarms 109. The arms 108 project downward at aninclination and extend `below the planeof the arms 109 which are approximately horizontal. rlhe lower edge of the feed-.wheel extends into the slot between plates 69 and 70,1nhile at its upper portion it extends intdthe groove ofthe wheel 35, beingdriven thereby. Extensions 108 are made to the arms 109 yin front, the same carrying a smallproller 16 forbearing -upon the stem of a leaf ofto bacco as it is startedunder `the feedwheel. It is apparent that'the .entire mechanism mounted atthe lower end ofthe arm 'Qinay vbe .elevated into the dotted `line position shown in Fig. 7 or 10 by merely grasping the front fportion of the mechanism and pulling hard i enough to disconnect the -rod 47 from .the spring actuated plugs .104 in which the ends of `said rod seatgland Athat v ing the adjustment andthe/ Ii tightening said :set screws.Y l f l These arms are secured in 'fixed posij fend on one side of the supportp.

' foot of the operator.' `A linlli`48is pivotally attached ,at its., upper end j to an arm 50a which isv secured to`o'ne end of the shaft 50. LinkA `4Spasses.downwardly along the inner side of the support 5 and at its lower end is Aeoiniected to-fthe `'rearwardly extending arm f53 of a. bell-crank lever, the downwardly extending` arm; 53 of `which carries a foot lwhich the lever may be :operated from full Y member 54 at its lower yend by means of line position j-to dotted lineposition' as shown in Figj10, this actingtoelevate the arm 9 and mechanism carried thereby.;v The weight of .saidl mechanism causes it to return to n`orfmal position` fwhen the' foot `member 54 is released and4 to check too rapid return, a

' Cylinder 'llhag a Ipiston woikingtherein thel f `same `beingconnected to .the i upper end of an arm 52 pivotally mounted at its lower A `link 111 connects the arm 5011wi-th the ,piston rod :and arm 52 :attheir pivotal poiiitfof connection and extends a short,` distance to therear tonormallystrike against a stop 1'10adjust- `ably mounted below, the cylinder@ 51. .1i

`checl is .thus'interposed againstrapid ,de-

scent of the arm 49 i and `attached mechanism,`

and Ya stop.. made to govern the Vex'actposition talenwhen the parte of the mechanism car-v ried bythe arm 9 are'in vlower position. The

111. and `12 lift'with the elevation ,ofupulleys 11 and 12, and a suitable retainingroller 1,07 `may ibe used'to fliold the belts against-[the ,are elethe rear .over tensioning irollers 1.4 mounted 'in front of` rollers `13 and carried 1on. arms 34 assliown `in Fig. yBelts `pass over and back` of--Ythe rollers V13 thence; downwardly .under idle rollers -2fllcarried at the ends'of arms `22 ,-pivot'ally mounted on a rod 426-on the supporting frame of kthe machine, 4thence uiiderthetable and underidle rollers 18 at the/front of themachine and upwardly oversupper idle rollers 1 7 and then back over the table, passing one at each side of the slot Vbetween plates .69 and 7.0, and under and around'the drum 6, thence around thepulgtivo rbelts which :pass aroundthe pulleys 10,

leys 12 and 11, this `ceinpleting ,the `circuit A of-thefbelts. Vlhe arms 22 `and '34 serve in the capacity of belt tensioners,it\being designed that ythe samemay ybe operated kby lsprings..` Drum 6 is driven iby the belts. thereafter the device may be returned to Two othergbelts A pass around rollers :17,

18, 21 and 13, thence under the drum 6, being located outside lofthe belts B and driven in .unisontherewitlr lSaid belts'ii and B are A through the head 7 isa` narrowbelt-73 of leather in which a lurality of notches'73FL are cut as shown iniliig. 3. The belt is cut atits upper portionat veach side at angle and is provided with a central upper'groove 73b as shown in F ig. 6, this construction precluding interference of the belt with the cutting knives, hereafter described, and aiding in receiving the steml of the leaf of tobacco fed into the machine. This belt passes around a drivingk roller 101, iiXed on i a shaft 100, thence downwardly and forwardly under a tension roller 86 carried at the lower end of,A a` depending pivotally mounted arm 90,'thence upwardly overa roller 87 suitably mounted on a projecting part 88 of the main support, and thence to the rear through thehead 7. The belt 73 is pressed upwardly against Vthe feed wheel 15 by a roller 76 over which itpasses. Roller 76 is Xed on a short shaft or pin`77 at the rear yend of a lever 78 pivotally mounted be-L tween its ends at 103 on the head and actuated by spring; 85 to oress Vroller 76 against the belt' 73. It is evident that with this construction, the'stem of a leaf of to bacco, when entered under thev roller 16 down the inclined 'groove 89 made in the upper .side of the vhead k7 in front of. the

roller, will, when they belt 73 comes to such position that the end of the stein mayl enter a notch 73a, be drawn under the roller 16 and thence under the feed wheel 15, the stem passing under the slot between theplatcs 697and while the sides of the'leafsprea'd over the carrying belts A and B. yThis has the effect to tension or stretch the 'leaf at each side of the stein as it passesunder the wheels 16 and 15and renders the same particularly easy to cut at such tensionediparts when brought into contact with a rotary cutting' knife, as will now be described.

Tlieknives 74 and 75 are of circular forni and are located below the plates 7 Candi-39, respectively on opposite sides of theslot between the plates. a plane slightly below'the; other knife 75 and is oppositely beveled Vas shown. Said knives are fixed at'the upper ends of vertical shafts 94 and 93 which are rotatablyV mounted at ther rear ends ofY brackets 67 pivotally mounted on the underside of the head 7 in spaced apart relation, one at each side of the -slot between platesk 69 and 70. Each bracket is pivotally mounted between its ends on a vertical .shaft 82, which passes upwardly through one end ofl across bar 68 disposed below brackets and extends across the space between the saine, and

each vertical shaft y82passes throughv its" Vbracket and connects 'with the head 7. A

coiled spring 79k under compression.V is disposed between the front ends vof the brackets 67, the'tendency being toV bring the rear ends of the'brackets together7 which tend- One knife 7 4t is located in encyy is controlled-by an adjusting screw 81 threaded'npwardly vthrough bar 63 and provided with a. beveled head to contact with associated beveled lugs projecting from the brackets 67 back of their pivotal vmounts as '5 shown in Fig. 4,. this adjusting the brackets and the knives 7e, and 75 to any, desired position with respect to'eachvother. A locking washer 801s used with adjusting screw'81 to keep it ina-ny position to which it may be adjusted.

Directly in front `of the knives 74 and are located two fingers 72, pivotally mounted on the head 7 under the plates 69 and 70, on the pins y'102. {One of these 5 fingers is located'vat each side of the slot, its forwardend being beveled on its-under side andits rear end on its upper side, and. drawn normally across the slot rby .springs 9.5 andV 96. The ystein vof the'leail of tobacco passes under the inneredges` of saidngers72, theleaf at points adjacent the stempassing with the belts l yand 5 over said lingers and the adjacent head 7 towhich they are attached` this aiding in stretching the .leaf at the stern for easy' cutting all of thev tobaccorof anyy value ,from the stem, it being apparent that'the oppositely beveled circular knives sever the stem` from the leaf,

the stem being delivered into an outlet tube eoy 91 at the back of the head 7 being guided therein from the knives under the part 92 of the head 7, as vshown iniig. 3.

the shaft through wearing' shown. Shaft h l L.

100! carries spiral gears 9S, vmeshing with .spiral gears 99 on the vertical. shafts 93 and 94; 0n which the knives 711; and 7 5 are fixed -to drive the saine,gears`98 having suitable guards and oil. pockets Se into lower parts'of the gears extend.

An electric motor 65v is located adjacent the left hand side of the support, having' conwliich the neetion with ashaft 66 through a universal v joint connection shown at 62, and (Sei Fig. Shaft 66' is rotatably mounted on and-under a swinging arm 614located horizontally substantially .in abn-ement with the motor shaft,v and the shaft 66 atV its Vfree end carries :i spiral gear 30 adapted to mesh f with 'a similar gear 31'on`. the lower end of the vertical shaft 32. When the motor is in operation and the KZgears 30 and 31 in engage ment, the mechanismis operated, belts A, B, l

and 73 being" driven, druin6 rotated, and

theV knives 7 d 75 driven` as willfbe evident.l e Y 'iso The spring '.120 is secured at one rend to a lug' 118i1 IdependingV 'from and preierablyT .formed integral with the bracket` 118 and arranged kin substantial parallelism; with the arm 119to which vthe saidspring 1.2() is adjustably connected.- j

".lhegarms 116 and..associated 'retaining ngersll may be drawn tothe rear at any time when arms SandQ'and attached mechanisn'i is elevated to remove the bool; ci

leaves oi tobacco from the drum.

Two rods 121 are mounted one at each end oi the nrum and in rontjthereot, being carried by supporting,"brackets 122 as shown.

A member V123 is adjustably mounted to move lengthwise/of each rodand 'to turn about the axis of the rod, and to-'each member 12?V a rod l2l vis piyotally mounted at 125, Veach rod-124 serving 'as a shaft on which` rollers e126 mayr turn.

*V ward inia direction longitudinally of the wheel 15, and as alear oftobacco is spread machine to arrange it in-Va lowered position upon the support or table 1. The rollers 126 entend toward each other, their adjai cent ends lying one each, side oli the feed out and` fed intofthe machine, said rollers press against the; same 'n and hold itronr contractingand getting out or shape as the operation or stemming proceeds. The 'rollV ers by their? weight practically smooth vthe leaves yso that, when brought to the drum (d` with the lstems removed, they book Vthereon in 4smooth and-even order. y rit4 any-.time desired the` same. maybe `turned about/the rods 121 into the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 1G, and they valso-may be adjusted to any ydesired or proper'position by moving the same lengthwise of said rods 121.v

'l Claim: Y' 'i 1. -f tobacco stemminfy machine Vcomprisa support, table having a longitudinal slot therein carried. bythe support, conf veyingmeansfleadi-ngf over the table to carry a leaf in the direction of the length of' the stem' thereoiover the table, a-belt monnted :directly/below theslot in the table,

meansto move the beltinv the same direction as said conveying` means, means to press the stem the `leafagainst the belt, and aittiiegv means located between the belt and the upper surface of the table for severing the stem from the leaf, substantially as' described;

2A tobaccol stemming;l machine, a table having;` a slot therein, an endless belt mounted below the slot, means for forcing the stem of a leaf of tobaocoagainst the beltthereby bringing the stem below the plane of the u The 'pivotal mounting of the rod1241-on the pivotedy upper side oli the-tabl@ a rotary knife mounted to turn on substantially a vertical axis at cach side of the slot and below the table but above the belt, means to drive the beit to carry the stemj to the rear oil the table, meanstc carry the remainder of the leaf over the table in the samedirection, and 'means to 'rot-irte the knives topscver the stem progressively from the leaf, substantially as described. l.y A, tchat-,co stemming;` machine compristable having; a slot therein, au en 17css .belt mounted below the slet, means for driving; the belt to the roar of `the table, means for carryng a leal oi tobacco over the table from i ont to rear. drum bac oiainl above the table with which said lealv carrying' mcz-inslengapes to drive the drum and deliver the leavesi'rom the table to the drinn. land. means to sever the stem from 'i as it passes over the table and prior each vle to ,its delivery to the drum.

-f il tobacco stemming machine comprisey ing` atable having a slot tliereind en endless belt mounted below the slot, kmeans to press the ystems of leaves ci tobacco against the be cutting means located directly over the be to sever the steniirom the leaf?, a drum bly mounted above and at the rear of le, means to carry leaves oi' tobacco `extendir rlowia pulleys mounted thereon, asecond arm f tendine' from thel lower end orf theiirst arm and mounted on. said sl t, a. pulley mount ed at the *iront end of the second arm, belts leading?,Y 'from the front ot the table to the rear under, back oiC and over the drum and Yhence aro-rind the pulleys at the lower end ofthe first arm and at the 'iront end oi the second arm, thence bach over the pulleys on the rodto the rear oit the support, thence downwardly and under thetable, a second arm connected to the rod, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the support, thelower portion of which is provided with a foot,

6. A tobacco stemmingmachine compris-V ing a support, a table carried by the support,

irdly in iront ot' the dri fn, ashaiit carried `at the lower end offA the arm,

for severing or cutting the stems from the 5 leaves of tobacco as they pass over the table, means to drive the cutting means and the carrying means from the second shaft, a slidably mounted member connected to the motor shaft and mounted on the support, a spring associated therewith tending'to disconnect the gears on the two shafts, a lever pivotally mounted on the support and eX- tending downwardly therefrom, an irregularly shaped member connected to the upper end of the lever adjacent the slidably mount* ed member and having an extension reaching to the drum, a roller on the upper end of the extension riding on the inner side of the drum and over the cani projection once with each revolution of the drum, a spring acting on said irregularly shaped member for holding the roller against the drum, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a dog pivotally mounted on the irregularly shaped member, a lug on the slidably mounted member behind which the dog may be positioned, means mounted on the lower end of the lever and connected with the dog for moving it behind the lug,

directly below the slot in the table, said beltV having a plurality of spaced apart notches in the upper side thereof, means to move the belt in the same direction as said conveying means, means to press the stem of the Vleaf against said belt, the end of the stem being adapted to enter a notch in the belt, and cutting means located between the belt and the upper surface of the table for severing the stem from the leaf.

margen@ e; A tobacco steam-ing machine com ris:

ing a support, a table having a longitu inal slot therein carriedfby the support, conveyiirg-a means' leading over thetablfe to carry ai leaf of tobacco' in the direction of the length of the stem thereof over the table, a belt mounted 'directly below the slot in the table, said' belt Vat its outer side having a plurality of spaced apart notches cuttherein and hav- 'ing portions out at an angle from the belt whereby the^ outerside of the belt has vtwoy angularly disposed portions leadingv d0wnwardly and away from eachother, said belt -also being formed with a groove at the.

meeting'y edges of said angularly disposed portions, means to move the belt in the same direction said conveying means, means to press the stem ofthe leaf against the belt at said grooved and. notched portionsthere-V of, and cutting means located between the belt and upperV surface of the table vfor severing the stem from the,v leaf asit is carried thereof over thetable, a belt` mounted directly below the slot in the table, said belt 'having a plurality of spaced notches, means tov move the belt in the same direction as the said kconveying means, means to press the steinr ofthe leaf against said belt to cause the said stem to venter a notch of the said belt and cuttingmechanism for severing the stem from the leaf. f y

l0. A tobacco stemming machine comprising a support, atabler having aj longitudinal slot and carried by the support, conveying means leading over the tableA to carry a leaf in the direction v of the length ofthe stem thereof over the table," a belt mounted directly belowthe'slot inthe table, saidlbelt l at its outer side havinga plurality of spaced notchesand having portions cut at" an ano'le from the belt whereby the outerv side of t e beltv has two angularly `disposed portions leading downwardly and away from each4 other, said belt being also formed With a groove at the meeting edges 4of thesaid an- 'i gularly disposed portions, means to press the stemcof the'leaf againstthe belt at said 4grooved and ynotched portions and cutting means for severing the stem from the leaf. ln testimony whereof I afHX m signature. JOHN` DEAN. 

